How do experiences of divine affirmation or inspiration influence moral imagination, empathy, and ethical reasoning among queer believers? This is a question that has been explored by scholars from various disciplines including religious studies, psychology, sociology, and philosophy. In this article, I will discuss how these experiences shape moral imagination, empathy, and ethical reasoning among queer believers.
The term "queer" refers to people who identify with nontraditional sexual orientations and gender identities. It includes lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, asexual, pansexual, demisexual, and omnisexual individuals. Queer believers are those who believe in a higher power or deity but do not necessarily conform to traditional religious norms regarding sexuality and gender. They may belong to mainstream religions such as Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, or paganism or less common ones like Asatru, Wicca, Santeria, or Shinto.
Experiences of divine affirmation and inspiration can come in many forms such as visions, dreams, prophecies, voices, feelings of being touched by a divine presence, or sensory perceptions. These experiences can be highly personal and subjective, yet they have been found to have significant impact on morality.
One study found that queer believers who had experiences of divine affirmation were more likely to report having positive attitudes towards LGBTQ+ people compared to those who did not (Coleman et al., 2019). Another study showed that queer believers who experienced divine love reported greater acceptance of their own sexual orientation (Warren & Crago, 2018).
Moral imagination is the ability to imagine different scenarios and evaluate them from multiple perspectives. Empathy refers to the capacity to understand and share the emotions of others. Ethical reasoning involves applying moral principles to specific situations and making judgments based on those principles. Experiences of divine affirmation and inspiration can influence these processes in various ways.
They can enhance moral imagination by broadening the scope of possible outcomes and increasing awareness of diverse perspectives. They can also increase empathy by deepening understanding of other people's experiences and feelings.
They can promote ethical reasoning by providing a foundation for moral judgment based on religious teachings and values.
Experiences of divine affirmation or inspiration play an important role in shaping moral imagination, empathy, and ethical reasoning among queer believers. While there are no easy answers, it is clear that these experiences should be taken seriously when considering how to engage with and support this population. Future research should explore how other factors such as social context, cultural norms, and personal beliefs interact with these experiences to shape morality.
How do experiences of divine affirmation or inspiration influence moral imagination, empathy, and ethical reasoning among queer believers?
Despite experiencing rejection by their religious communities, individuals with non-normative sexual orientations often seek validation from God as they strive to understand themselves and find belonging in the world. Divine affirmation can strengthen their spirituality, which, in turn, affects how they view morality.